Blackstar Product Guide

PRODUCT CATALOGUE 2009

Designed and Engineered byBlackstar Amplification UK

Introducing Blackstar

Welcome to the latest Blackstar Amplification product catalogue.

At Blackstar, we are all musicians and understand the importance of great

tone, whether for practicing at home or on stage in a live environment.

Based in Northampton, England with over 50 years combined experience

in guitar amplification design and production, we are totally committed to

providing you with the ultimate tools for self expression. We hope our

unique and patented innovations will take you a step closer to finding the

‘sound in your head’.

The Blackstar Team

www.blackstaramps.co.ukMany thanks to the HMV Forum, London, for use of their

historic venue seen within the pages of this brochure.

“The best amps I have everplugged a guitar into.”

Artisan 30, Artisan 100 user

Pat TraversTHE PAT TRAVERS BAND

“Sings like a blackbird. Kickslike a mule.”

Artisan 30, Artisan 100 user

Björn ÅgrenRAZORLIGHT

“The Artisan 30 is round andfull bodied, I love it.”

Darran SmithFUNERAL FOR A FRIEND

“The HT-DISTX tone cuts throughlike a hot knife in butter – in otherwords it’s killer.”

SilenozDIMMU BORGIR

“I use this little workhorse everynight of the tour and | love it! The HT-DISTX makes my solossound huge and tubey!”

Scott MiddletonCANCER BATS

“The HT-5 is perfect for mysmaller gigs, and people alwaysflip when they hear such a bigtone from a small amp.”

Reb BeachWHITESNAKE, WINGER, DOKKEN

“I’m totally blown away bythe HT Pedals. The sound isamazing and the tone is veryversatile.”

Andy CairnsTHERAPY?

“I love this amp!”

Artisan 30 user

James DeanBradfieldMANIC STREET PREACHERS

“The Artisan 30 has great tone! I’vegot three of the little f***ers in line!”

Steve CradockOCEAN COLOUR SCENE,PAUL WELLER “It’s nice to see the reliability and

class of British engineering anddesign is alive and living underthe banner of BlackstarAmplification.” Artisan 30 user

Boz BoorerMORRISSEY

“The Artisan 15 is the kind ofamp that makes you play better,and gives you a quality of tonethat just shouldn’t be possiblefrom a 1x12 combo!”

Jolyon DixonAMY MACDONALD

“There’s no substitute for myBlackstar. The HT-DUAL gives methat dirty heavy tone withoutlosing any clarity. I love it!”

Stu Gili-RossGALLOWS

“Beautiful and creamy tubesaturation. The HT-DUALbeats the sh%t out of the bigname overdrive pedals I’vebeen using for years…”

Steve ConteNEW YORK DOLLS

“The HT-BOOST has authentic,warm, valvey tones, a sterlingaddition to our collection. Asmall pedal with a big sound.”

Hugh HarrisTHE KOOKS

“The HT-DUAL is the base of mylive sound. I have been searchingfor something this good to buildon. It’s Empire!”

Jay MehlerKASABIAN

“The Artisan 30 is the missing link.”

Will FosterFRATELLIS, LODGER

“The HT-BOOST sounds theabsolute dogs danglies!!! It’s afantastic piece of kit that for achange actually does exactlywhat it says on the tin!”

Max TaylorGROOVE ARMADA

“The HT-DIST was the missingweapon in my tone arsenal!”

Paul MahonTHE ANSWER

www.blackstaramps.co.uk/artists

Blackstar Artists

Photos: Pat Travers, Darran Smith, Steve Cradock, Paul Mahon – Dan Griffiths.Reb Beach – Dave Nestler. Stu Gili-Ross – Nick Priest. James Dean Bradfield – Scarlett Page. Björn Ågren – Paul Michael Hughes. Steve Conte – Justin Borucki (www.justinborucki.com). Brochure photography – Paul Michael Hughes.

The New #1

SERIES ONE delivers incredible high

gain performance with a level of

tonal refinement found previously

only in the very best boutique and

vintage amps.

SERIES ONE 45

The S1-45 delivers both Class A style cleantones and classic push-pull crunchdepending on the mode selected. ISF allowsyou to exactly tune your sound and DPRreduces the power down to 4.5W. Neospeakers, MIDI switching and a series effectsloop make this the ultimate pro’s combo.

■ 45 Watt combo with DPR ■ 3 x ECC83, 1 x

ECC82, 2 x EL34 valves ■ 2 channels and 4 modes

(footswitchable) ■ Clean channel with Warm (Plexi)

and Bright (Class A) modes ■ Overdrive channel

with Crunch and Super Crunch modes ■ ISF

equipped tone controls ■ Presence and

Resonance controls ■ Master Volume ■ Series

effects loop ■ MIDI switching ■ Speaker emulated

output ■ 2 x Celestion custom designed Neo 12˝speakers

SERIES ONE 100

Built on the rock-solid foundation of theclassic 100W EL34 power stage, the S1-100sets new standards for clean and crunchtones. This amp has two channels and fourfootswitchable modes, complete with ISF,and includes the amazing Super Crunch forthe biggest, crunchiest tones yet heard.

■ 100 Watt head with DPR ■ 3 x ECC83, 1 x

ECC82, 4 x EL34 valves ■ 2 channels and 4

modes (footswitchable) ■ Clean channel with

Warm (Plexi) and Bright (Class A) modes

■ Overdrive channel with Crunch and Super

Crunch modes ■ ISF equipped tone controls

■ Presence and Resonance controls ■ Master

Volume ■ Series effects loop ■ MIDI switching

■ Speaker emulated output

SERIES ONE 200

The S1-200 has all the tonal refinement of theS1-45 and S1-100, but with an additional twoultra high gain overdrive channels. Combinethis with the muscle of a 200W KT88 poweramp and you have a true metal monster.

■ 200 Watt head with DPR ■ 4 x ECC83, 1 x

ECC82, 4 x KT88 valves ■ 4 footswitchable

channels ■ Clean channel with Warm (Plexi) and

Bright (Class A) modes ■ Crunch channel with

Crunch and Super Crunch modes ■ Two overdrive

channels with high and low output damping ■ Two

ISF equipped tone controls ■ Presence and

Resonance controls ■ Master Volume ■ Series

effects loop ■ MIDI switching ■ Speaker

emulated output

SERIES ONE 412A/B

■ 240W / 16Ω extension cabinet■ Switchable mono

/ stereo ■ Finger-jointed birch plywood construction

■ Heavy gauge wire■ Celestion Vintage 30 speakers

Dual Patent Design

ISF (Infinite Shape Feature). This fully interactive control allows you toinfinitely adjust the response of the tone controlnetwork between British and Americanvoicings. In this way you can design your ownsound and find the sound in your head.

DPR (Dynamic Power Reduction).The unique DPR system allows you to varythe amplifier output down to 10% of its ratedpower with no loss in tone or valve reliability.Pure valve output distortion and compressionat any volume – a dream come true.

www.blackstaramps.co.uk/seriesone

SERIES ONE 200 front panel



Hand-crafted tone

The award winning Artisan Series

of handwired amplifiers represents

the absolute highest standard of

craftsmanship and all-valve

boutique tone.

ARTISAN 15

The ARTISAN 15 – beautiful looks andbeautiful tone. Two channels, one based onan EF86 Pentode and the other an ECC83Triode, refine legendary vintage and boutiquereference tones.

■ Class A 15W ■ Switch for 5W single-ended /

15W push-pull ■ 2 x EL84 output valves

■ EF86 channel ■ ECC83 channel ■ Hi and Lo

inputs perfect for channel blending ■ Impedance

selector ■ Vintage G12M Celestion speaker

ARTISAN 30

There is something magical in the sonicqualities of the 30W EL84 power stage drivinga pair of classic British speakers. TheARTISAN 30 takes this tone and distils it to anew level of tonal purity.


30W push-pull ■ 4 x EL84 output valves ■ EF86

channel with 5-way Bass Shape switch ■ ECC83

channel with 2-way Voice switch and Master

Volume ■ Hi and Lo inputs perfect for channel

blending ■ Impedance selector ■ 2 x Celestion

Vintage 30 speakers

www.blackstaramps.co.uk/artisan

ARTISAN 15 front panel


ARTISAN 15 chassis

Best Amplifier 2008

ARTISAN 15H front panel

ARTISAN 30H chassis

ARTISAN 30H front panel

ARTISAN 15H

A portable head version of the acclaimedARTISAN 15. Two channels, one based on anEF86 Pentode and the other an ECC83Triode, refine legendary vintage and boutiquereference tones.


15W push-pull ■ 2 x EL84 output valves

■ EF86 channel ■ ECC83 channel ■ Hi and

Lo inputs perfect for channel blending

■ Impedance selector

ARTISAN 30H

The award-winning ARTISAN 30 in a headformat. The ARTISAN 30H takes the magicalsonic qualities of the 30W EL84 power stageand distils it to a new level of tonal purity.


30W push-pull ■ 4 x EL84 output valves ■ EF86

channel with 5-way Bass Shape switch ■ ECC83

channel with 2-way Voice switch and Master

Volume ■ Hi and Lo inputs perfect for channel

blending ■ Impedance selector

ARTISAN 212

This 2x12 cabinet is handwired and built tothe highest standards using the finestmaterials. Every care has been taken with thedesign to ensure that it produces the bestpossible sounds and really will last a lifetime.

■ 120W / 16Ω extension cabinet ■ Mono /

stereo ■ Finger-jointed birch plywood construction

■ Heavy gauge wire ■ Celestion Vintage 30

speakers



ARTISAN 100

The ARTISAN 100 takes the boutique 100Wformat to a whole new level of flexibility. TheVoice control is a timeline of the evolution ofthe genre from the early American designsthrough to British designs of the ’60s and ’70s.

■ 100W head ■ 4 x EL34 output valves ■ 4-way

Voice switch is a timeline of 100W designs ■ Hi

and Lo inputs perfect for channel blending

■ Impedance selector

ARTISAN 412A/B

The oversized vintage Blackstar 4x12cabinets are handwired and built to thehighest standards using the finest materials.Every care has been taken with the design ofthese cabinets to ensure that they producethe best possible sounds and will really last alifetime.

■ 240W / 16Ω extension cabinet ■ Switchable

mono / stereo ■ Finger-jointed birch plywood

construction ■ Heavy gauge wire ■ Celestion

Vintage 30 speakers

ARTISAN 100 chassis


Killer tones and innovative

features make the HT-5

the ultimate studio and

practice valve amp.

HT-5 front panel

HT-5H front panel

www.blackstaramps.co.uk/ht-5

HT-5 COMBO

Thanks to the unique 5W push-pull design,the HT-5 combo delivers huge tone at any volume.

■ Innovative 5 Watt valve combo ■ 1 xECC83 and 1 x 12BH7 ■ Unique push-pullpower amp design ■ Award winning HTPedal preamp ■ Two footswitchablechannels ■ 10˝ Celestion speaker ■ Patent-applied-for Infinite Shape Feature (ISF)

■ Speaker emulated output with 1x12 or4x12 voicing ■ Effects loop with effects levelswitch ■ Footswitch included

HT-5H HEAD

The HT-5H is a head version of the awardwinning HT-5 combo. With all the same greatfeatures and tone it’s compact and portable,and more than capable of driving a 4x12!

■ Innovative 5 Watt valve head ■ 1 x ECC83and 1 x 12BH7 ■ Unique push-pull poweramp design ■ Award winning HT Pedalpreamp ■ Two footswitchable channels

■ Patent-applied-for Infinite Shape Feature(ISF) ■ Speaker emulated output with 1x12or 4x12 voicing ■ Effects loop with effectslevel switch ■ Footswitch included

HT-5S MINI STACK

The HT-5S mini stack combines the HT-5Hhead with two 1x10 Celestion loaded speakercabinets.

■ Innovative 5 Watt valve head ■ 1 x ECC83and 1 x 12BH7 ■ Unique push-pull poweramp design ■ Award winning HT Pedalpreamp ■ Two footswitchable channels

■ Two 1x10˝ Celestion speaker cabinets

■ Enhanced tone controls ■ Patent-applied-for Infinite Shape Feature (ISF) ■ Speakeremulated output with 1x12 or 4x12 voicing

■ Effects loop with effects level switch

■ Footswitch included

Heavenly boxes

The award winning HT Range of valve

overdrive pedals feature true high voltage

(300V) circuitry and are packed with

innovations and tone.

HT-BOOSTPURE VALVE BOOST

HT-DRIVE

HT-DISTPURE VALVE DISTORTION

HT-DISTXPURE VALVE FILTH

HT-DUALPURE VALVE DISTORTION

HT RANGE

The HT-BOOST’s high voltage gaincircuit is like adding two extra hotvalve stages to your amp so, unlikewith inferior battery poweredproducts, you don’t lose anyprecious dynamics or tone.

■ Genuine valve design ■ Operates at

300V HT ■ Cascaded valve gain stages

■ Hot-rod your valve amp ■ Silent

switching operation ■ All-valve tone

control circuit ■ Pedals or ‘hot’ valve

amplifier outputs ■ High integrity buffered

bypass ■ Power supply included

■ Silent switching

The HT-DRIVE has dual cascaded,high voltage, triode stages whichdeliver gain from warm boost toscreaming valve saturation. Theunique ‘A-Class’ tone control cutsthe fizz without making your ‘backed-off’ tone sound dull and lifeless.



■ Responds like a valve amp ■ Unique

‘A-Class’ tone control ■ Fully equipped

for stage or studio ■ Speaker emulated

output ■ High integrity buffered bypass

■ Power supply included ■ Silent switching

By allowing infinite adjustment overthe characteristics of the HT-DIST’stone control network, the patent-applied-for ISF circuit allows you toeffectively design your own tone andfind the sound in your head.




enhanced tone controls ■ Exclusive

Infinite Shape Feature (ISF) ■ Fully

equipped for stage or studio ■ Speaker

emulated output ■ High integrity buffered

bypass ■ Power supply included

■ Silent switching

The HT-DISTX is a no compromise,ultra high gain, filth machine. Thetone has been benchmarked againstthe best high-gain valve amps in theworld and will transform your mildmannered classic into a fire breathingmonster.




enhanced tone controls ■ Extreme gain

and tone ■ Exclusive Infinite Shape

Feature (ISF) ■ Fully equipped for stage

or studio ■ Speaker emulated output

■ High integrity buffered bypass ■ Power

supply included ■ Silent switching

The HT-DUAL offers the ultimate inhigh voltage valve distortion flexibility.Channel 1 has either Clean orCrunch modes so it can be usedclean, as a boost or overdrive.Channel 2 gives distortion tones fromsuper crunch right up to screaminglead. The unique switching operationwill transform a single channelvintage amp into a three channeltone machine.



■ Responds like a valve amp ■ 2

channel operation ■ Clean, Crunch &

Lead modes ■ Unique switching operation

■ Unique enhanced tone controls

■ Exclusive Infinite Shape Feature (ISF)

■ Fully equipped for stage or studio

■ Speaker emulated output ■ High

integrity buffered bypass ■ Power supply

included ■ Silent switchingwww.blackstaramps.co.uk/htHT-DUAL HT-DISTX

Blackstar Amplification Ltd,

Beckett House, 14 Billing Road,

Northampton, NN1 5AW, UK

www.blackstaramps.co.uk

The specifications and information in

this publication are subject to change

without prior notice.

CAT-1003

Documents

Blackstar Product Guide